Feminist sex is better.
This was the message that Matthew Ezzell, an assistant professor of sociology at James Madison University and a UNC alumnus, brought to students in a talk Wednesday entitled ““Man Up” …Women Down?”
Feminist Students United hosted Ezzell to speak on sexual violence against women and the rape culture that exists in society, he said, which encourages violent behavior among men.
Ezzell spoke to a crowd of about 150 students in Murphey 116.
He targeted advertisements as a source of objectifying women.
“The average citizen spends two full years of his or her life watching advertisements and these advertisements are eroding the importance of consent from women,” Ezzell said.
He showed students mainstream advertisements picturing women in cages, being controlled, locked up and in provocative sexual poses all trying to sell different products. He explained that these images lead to the increased view of sex as an aggressive act.
“When young men are exposed to these violent sexual images, more permissive attitudes about sex objectifying women arise,” Ezzell said.
“You consume images and advertising without a second thought,” said Robyn Levine, a senior. “We don’t think about these images being problematic. And that in itself is the problem.”
Ezzell said even desensitization to demeaning words contributes to this issue. He used examples of common phrases such as “drop dead gorgeous” and “killer smile,” two phrases that have violent associations and are commonly used to describe women.
He added that if society demands change, organizes and challenges the consumer culture, rape would cease to be a public health crisis.
“We need to bring back feminist sex,” Ezzell said. “Patriarchal sex is what you do to something. Feminist sex is a mutual action that promotes respect and is more rewarding.”
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